Detroit Metro Airport Flies High In Healthy Food Survey

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By Christy StrawserCBS Detroit Managing Editor
Say what you will about airplane food, leave the airport itself out of it — especially in Detroit.

Why? Because Detroit Metropolitan Airport was ranked No. 1 in the country for healthy airport food by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. It’s something to think about for all those travelers heading out for the holidays and trying to keep Christmas indulgence in check: Fly through Detroit.

The committee surveyed airport eateries from June to November 2011, and awarded points per breakfast, lunch or dinner item that was “low-fat, high fiber, and cholesterol free.”

“After examining 15 major airports in a dozen states, PCRM dietitians found that 83 percent of airport restaurants now offer at least one low-fat, high-fiber, cholesterol-free vegetarian entrée, up one percent from last year,” the report found.

“Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport received a score of 100 percent and topped the list for the third year in a row.”

Frequent flyers already know Metro isn’t just Cinnabons and Mickey D’s anymore, as the new North Terminal and the nearly new McNamara Terminal brought new fare for the 30 million people a year who head through the turnstiles. The North Terminal has a Hockeytown Cafe, Earl of Sandwich, Villa Pizza Fresh Italian Kitchen, and National Coney Island.

The report noted that Detroit Metro was the “only airport in the history of PCRM’s report to receive a perfect score —- twice.”

Every single travelers’ haven at the airport offers at least one healthy entrée, the report found, including “the veggie burrito at Diego’s Mexican Cantina, the black bean burger at Slapshotz, and the hummus and veggie platter at the Heineken Bar.”

San Francisco ranked second in the healthy airport food survey, followed by Dulles International Airport; Minneapolis-St. Paul. Dallas/Fort Worth and Las Vegas tied for fifth place.